With great sadness, Roland Corporation U.S. in Los Angeles announces the sudden passing of Ron Lankford, Roland V-Accordion sales consultant and product specialist. He is survived by his wife Faith and his four children: Elijah, Brockman, Brittany and Ronnie.
Born in Los Angeles, Lankford had a deep love and appreciation of the accordion ever since he took lessons at the age of seven. He played in a wide variety of genres, including rock, country, and folk, and recorded several music projects. Lankford’s sales and entrepreneurial background included a variety of positions in sales and the ownership of two businesses.
His lifelong love of the accordion led him to play at the Shrine Auditorium with 500 other student accordion players and study for six years at the Milton Mann Accordion Studios, both of which he cited as highlights of his life. Lankford was a well-respected evangelist for the accordion, and often played at live venues around his area of the Pacific Northwest when he wasn’t traveling for Roland.
“Ron spent the last three years with Roland helping to grow our accordion business,” says Chris Halon, Director of Product Marketing. “His passion for Roland digital accordions was second only to Mr. Kakehashi, and he loved every minute of working with Roland. Ron was a larger than life character and one of the most compassionate gentlemen the world has ever known. He will be missed.”
A service was held on Friday, March 19, in Grants Pass, Ore. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to be made in care of Ron Lankford to:
Rogue Valley Medical Center Foundation
2600 Siskiyou Blvd. #100
Medford, OR 97504
www.asante.org/ways-to-help/rvmc/index.aspx
Roland Corporation U.S. is at www.RolandUS.com.
